replacement top for 1997 miata

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

socamb - 01 Apr 2008 01:45 GMT

all,

I am considering a replacement top for my '97 miata. I want one that
has a glass rear window. I want to be able to opent he top without un
zipping the rear window.

does anyone have any recommendations.

also, how much should i expect top pay to have it installed?

thanks
scott

Reply to this Message

Lanny Chambers - 01 Apr 2008 02:54 GMT

In article
<1e15ec8c-1a1f-4ae0-8a3e-9658b5377f58@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>,

> I am considering a replacement top for my '97 miata. I want one that
> has a glass rear window. I want to be able to opent he top without un
> zipping the rear window.

A lot of folks on miata.net say good things about this vendor and top:

http://www.duettomotors.com/tops/miata_tops/tops.htm

Signature

Lanny Chambers
St. Louis, MO
'94C

Reply to this Message

Iva - 01 Apr 2008 23:59 GMT

>> I am considering a replacement top for my '97 miata. I want one
>> that
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> http://www.duettomotors.com/tops/miata_tops/tops.htm

Ditto on the Duetto top - I've heard nothing but good about them.

As for installation, it depends on where you live and where you go to
have it done. You might check to see if there's a local Miata club in
your area. Someone there might be willing to give you a better
recommendation for an installer or even be willing to help you install
it yourself. Our local club assists folks with top installations for
a modest monetary contribution to our treasury.

Iva & Vixen
2004 Classic Red
No more winkin' Miata

Reply to this Message

pws - 02 Apr 2008 00:24 GMT

> Ditto on the Duetto top - I've heard nothing but good about them.
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> 2004 Classic Red
> No more winkin' Miata

Duetto went out of business recently, so their tops are no longer available.

Pat

Reply to this Message

Christopher Muto - 02 Apr 2008 13:56 GMT

i purchased a top from kwiktops.com a couple of years ago and installed it
on my '95.
it is cloth rather than vinyl and so look much better. but cloth requires
more maintenance (annual waterproofing).
it has a glass rear window that does not need to be unzipped to open the
top. however you do need to open/close the top a little differently. of
the three bows(?) the third one that is directly above the rear window is
not attached to the these zipperless tops and a strap is installed between
the second and third bow as well as one between the third bow and the rain
rail. to open the top you have to open the doors (or windows) and unhook
the latches as usual, then while standing next to the car, you have to reach
in and pinch the third bow toward the second before you flip the top open.
and you have to do the reverse when closing the top. opening the top can
also be done while inside the car to but closing it is more difficult. but
the glass window is totally worth it.

oh, one more thing... the style i got looks just like the stock top with the
window on a separate panel. there are plenty of zipperless glass tops (like
the expensive and popular one made by robbins) that are a one piece top with
the window integrated in the top. personally, i don't think they are as
attractive as the two piece tops and they have also been know to have
problem with the window separating from the top. the two piece versions
certainly look much more like stock (at least the way stock looked on the
na/nb).

> all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> thanks
> scott

Reply to this Message

Christopher Muto - 02 Apr 2008 14:02 GMT

ps. i see that duettomotors.com is still in business despite a comment
above. they certainly have a good reputation in the top business. but
notice the animated top show on their web site. it is of the one piece top
style that does not look like na/nb stock. also note that the top sits
higher than stock when in the down position. i am not sure why this is the
case, but recall asking everyone about what their top looks like when down
before i purchased... mine site below the beltline like stock even though
it has a glass window. this means i can still use my boot if i want to
(which doesn't just look good but also prolongs the life of your top).

>i purchased a top from kwiktops.com a couple of years ago and installed it
>on my '95.
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>> thanks
>> scott

Reply to this Message

pws - 02 Apr 2008 14:52 GMT

> ps. i see that duettomotors.com is still in business despite a comment
> above.

Ahhh, I just wanted to see how many people commented. Only one, damn.

That was an April Fools, BTW. Duetto probably is not going away anytime
soon.

Pat

Reply to this Message

Ken Lyons - 04 Apr 2008 12:11 GMT

>> ps. i see that duettomotors.com is still in business despite a comment
>> above.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Pat

Geez, Pat. You're like the local guy who posted a death notice of his friend
in the Washington Post on April 1. People were crying over the friend's
"death". The
poster paid for another notice to apologize April 2.

Anyway, back to tops. While the Robbins no-zip glass window top I installed
on her '90 was perfect, the Robbins I later bought for my '97 was cut wrong
and just didn't fit. Robbins did the right thing and replaced the top (with
a zipper glass window top however) and offered to pay the installation fees
(hmm....do you think they would send me the 3 Sierra Nevada Celebration Ales
it cost me to install it/?). It does bring up the question as to whether I
should recommend others buy the Robbins. I guess if no one has anything bad
to say about the Duetto, I'd go with their brand next time.

In regards to the after marker glass tops riding higher, I have photos of
the OEM top and the Robbins in the down position here:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/334058/4
--
Ken Lyons '97 Brilliant Black/'90 Classic Red
Inside the Beltway

Reply to this Message

XS11E - 04 Apr 2008 16:54 GMT

> Anyway, back to tops. While the Robbins no-zip glass window top I
> installed on her '90 was perfect, the Robbins I later bought for
> my '97 was cut wrong and just didn't fit.

Adding a repeat here, my earlier posts will show I had the rear window
separate from my new Robbins no-zip glass window top, Robbins replaced
the top with one they said had a newer process of attaching the window
and Mike's Place installed it for free (I'm hoping Robbins paid them
for the install?). Since, I've been very pleased with the top and
would recommend Robbins.

There's a possibility I may have contributed to the failure of the
first top by not leaving it up for the two days recommended?

> In regards to the after marker glass tops riding higher, I have
> photos of the OEM top and the Robbins in the down position here:
> http://www.cardomain.com/ride/334058/4

Of course they ride higher! I have a Robbins tonneau cover and when
buying one you're asked if you have the glass window so the cover can
be enlarged for the extra height. You can check this online at any of
the Miata vendors that sell Robbins.

Signature

XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project:
http://improve-usenet.org

Reply to this Message

Christopher Muto - 04 Apr 2008 21:02 GMT

>> Anyway, back to tops. While the Robbins no-zip glass window top I
>> installed on her '90 was perfect, the Robbins I later bought for
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> be enlarged for the extra height. You can check this online at any of
> the Miata vendors that sell Robbins.

'of course they ride higher' if you buy one that rides higher. as i
mentioned above the kwiktops folding/zippered top with stock oem glass that
i installed on my '95 does not sit higher. though it is a two piece top,
and the rear window is zippered in place, it can not be unzipped because of
the straps that are in place to make the top foldable without the need to
unzip the window. looks completely stock (na/nb stock that is, never liked
the nc stock top look with the beefy gromit around the window, but the
automatic folding feature of the nc top is nice as compared to having to
manually pinch the thrid and second bows together), but no need to unzip,
and it sits low like stock when folded. no need to buy another boot with
this top. i was told that older robbins sat higher but the newer ones do
not... but the buyer should confirm this for themselves. also i recall
duetto telling me that their tops do sit higher when folded like in their
pictures. ask them if they made any improvements to their design.

Reply to this Message

XS11E - 04 Apr 2008 22:34 GMT

> 'of course they ride higher' if you buy one that rides higher. as
> i mentioned above the kwiktops folding/zippered top with stock oem
> glass that i installed on my '95 does not sit higher.

My Robbins top replaced a Kwiktop zippered glass window that did sit
higher, it sat exactly the same height as does the Robbins that
replaced it.

Signature

XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project:
http://improve-usenet.org

Reply to this Message

Christopher Muto - 05 Apr 2008 04:15 GMT

i think all the older after market designs had the problem. choose
carefully and you don't have to accept it on a replacement top.

>> 'of course they ride higher' if you buy one that rides higher. as
>> i mentioned above the kwiktops folding/zippered top with stock oem
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> higher, it sat exactly the same height as does the Robbins that
> replaced it.

Reply to this Message

pws - 05 Apr 2008 22:36 GMT

> Geez, Pat. You're like the local guy who posted a death notice of his friend
> in the Washington Post on April 1. People were crying over the friend's
> "death". The
> poster paid for another notice to apologize April 2.

That's expensive! I thought about announcing that I was trading my Miata
in on
a motorcycle, but I didn't figure that XS11E would believe me. :-)

Pat

Reply to this Message

XS11E - 05 Apr 2008 23:16 GMT

> That's expensive! I thought about announcing that I was trading my
> Miata in on a motorcycle, but I didn't figure that XS11E would
> believe me. :-)

I wuz aware of the date!

Signature

XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project:
http://improve-usenet.org

Reply to this Message